Restoring Haiti

View from the Strip

By Casey Lessard

As someone who has been to Haiti, it is hard to sit here in Canada and watch television reports of the devastation caused by last week’s earthquake. Anjhela and I traveled there in 2005 with her uncle and cousins, who run the Canadian branch of the Baptist Haiti Mission, which has a large base just outside Port-au-Prince. The mission’s hospital is still standing and is overflowing with survivors needing help.

If you’re like me, you want to help. Anjhela’s cousin Jessica, who lives in Arkona, was planning on traveling there in March and was raising money to support The House That Jack Built, a fund started in her builder father Jack Michielsen’s honour. She has been growing her hair in dreadlocks since her father’s death five years ago, and is cutting them off to raise money for the Mission. Jessica is hoping to raise $5,000 to be matched by the Canadian government; the first 50 donors of $100 are free to cut one of 50 Jessica’s dreadlocks. Anjhela and I are in, and so is my mom. Donations of $10 or more are receiptable.

Visit the The House That Jack Built facebook page to request a dreadlock, and donate by sending your cheque before February 12 to:

The House that Jack Built fundraiser Baptist Haiti Mission Canada P.O. Box 11 602 Wellington Ave. Wallaceburg, ON. N8A 4L5

Another way to do that is through your local credit union. The United Communities Credit Union has a list of locations where you can donate (with matching funds from the Canadian government) on its website at myunited.ca.